BACKGROUND: The effects of low-level laser biostimulation have been proved by various experimental studies and clinical application, which are manifested as tissue repairing, analgesia, antiinflammation, etc.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of He-Ne laser and low-level CO2 laser irradiation on fracture healing.DESIGN: A randomized controlled animal experiment. SETTING: Research Room of Laser Medicine, Chengde Medical College.MATERIALS: Forty-eight healthy male New Zealand rabbits, weighing 2.0-2.5 kg, were used.METHODS: The experiments were carried out in the Research Room of Laser Medicine, Chengde Medical College from 1998 to 2003. ①The 48 rabbits were induced into models of experimental fracture of the left radius, and then they were divided into three groups with 16 rabbits in each group: control group, He-Ne laser irradiation group and CO2 laser irradiation group. The fracture areas of the animals in the He-Ne and CO2 laser irradiation groups were respectively irradiated with 28 mW/cm2 He-Ne laser and 150 mW/cm2 CO2 laser for 10 minutes, once a day. ② The animals were killed on the 15th and 35th days after taking roentgenogram respectively. At 15 days, the collagen and calcium contents in callus were detected. At 35 days, the biomechanic anti-torsion strength was examined.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Results of roentgenogram in each group; ② Collagen and calcium contents in callus; ③ Results of biomechanic anti-torsion strength.RESULTS: Totally 45 rabbits were involved in the analysis of results. ① On the 15th and day after fracture, the roentgenogram, collagen and calcium contents in callus in the He-Ne and CO2 laser irradiation groups were better than those in the control group, and the collagen and calcium contents in callus were higher in the CO2 laser irradiation group than in the He-Ne laser irradiation group [(341.9±30.1) vs (302.1±28.7) mg/g; (197.1±19.7)vs (156.5±17.6) mg/g, P＜ 0.05]. ②On the 35th days after fracture, the biomechanic anti-torsion functions in the He-Ne and CO2 laser irradiation groups were superior to that in the control group, and there were no significant difference between the two laser irradiation groups. ③ The results of roentgenogram in the He-Ne and CO2 laser irradiation groups were better than that in the control group both on the 15th and 35th days after fracture, and there was no significant difference between the two irradiation groups.CONCLUSION: Both CO2 laser and He-Ne laser irradiations can accelerate the process of fracture healing, and the curative effect of CO2 laser is better than that of He-Ne laser on the 15th day after fracture, but there is no significant difference clinically between the CO2 laser and the He-Ne laser irradiations on the 35th day after fracture.

Objective To investigate the role of phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) protein in the spinal cord neurons in diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) in rats.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 2 months,weighing 180-200 g,were studied.Diabetes mellitus was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) 60 mg/kg.Sixteen rats with DNP were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:DNP group and DNP+PTEN inhibitor bpv (pic) group (DPN-bpv group).Another 16 rats were equally and randomly divided into either control group (group C) or bpv group.In DNP-bpv and bpv groups,bpv (pic) 0.2mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally once a day within 14-28 days after injection of STZ.Before STZ injection (T1),and at 2,7,14,21 and 28 days after STZ injection (T2-6),the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) was measured.After measurement of MWT,the rats were sacrificed,and the lumbar segments of the spinal cord (L4.5) were removed for determination of PTEN protein activity (by ELISA) and Akt (s473) phosphorylation (by Western blot).Results Compared with group C,the MWT was significantly decreased at T4-6,and the PTEN protein activity and Akt (s473) phosphorylation were significantly increased in DNP and DNP-bpv groups (P＜0.05 or 0.01).Compared with group DNP,the MWT was significantly increased at T6,and the PTEN protein activity and Akt (s473) phosphorylation were significantly decreased in group DNP-bpv (P＜0.05).Conclusion PTEN protein in the spinal cord neurons is involved in the maintenance of DNP in rats.

Objective To study the characteristics of articles,citations and authors in Chinese Critical Care Medicine (Chin Crit Care Med).Methods The date about articles,citations and authors of Chin Crit Care Med from 2005 to 2006 were collected and analyzed in terms of bibliomertic parameters.Results There were 612 papers published in Chin Crit Care Med during 2 years and the papers with funded projects were accounted for 63.1%.The authors came from 30 provinces,autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government in China.The average number of articles per issue was 26;the paper density was 0.40 and the average period from the date of submission to publication was 5.2 months.Among these papers,87.6% were shared with co-authors,with cooperation rate of 4.40.The papers with citation were accounted for 85.1% and 95.9% of the citations in English came from journals.The Price's index was 58.2%.Conclusion The articles published in Chin Crit Care Med have high quality.It is one of the most important resources of information for researches in this field,and it is also a primary kernel journal in Chinese medicine field.

Objective To investigate the clinicopathologic features and treatment of thyroid microcarcinoma (TMC). Methods From January 1997 to December 2006,311 patients who underwent surgery and defined as TMC(tumor size≤1 cm)were enrolled. Results TMC was identified incidentally by frozen pathologic examination on thyroidectomy specimens in tentative benign goiters in 181 patients; another 130 patients with clinically detectable primary tumors or suspected nodal metastases were grouped to as clinically overt TMC. The clinically overt TMC had a higher incidence of bilateral multifocal tumors (18.5%vs.9.4%,P=0.03),and cervical lymph node metastases(27.7%vs.10.5%,P=0.000)than that in clinically occult TMC group. Conclusion TMC may vary considerably in clinical and biologic behaviors between these two subtypes: clinically overt and occult. Lobectomy for single lesion, total or near total thyroidectomy for multifocal with central compartment nodal dissection should be performed, lateral nodal dissection was not carried out unless US or physical examination detected nodal metastases. Lobetomy, subtotal or more limited thyroidectomy for occult TMC, diagnosed incidentally following thyroid surgery for initially tentative benign thyroid disease, could all be treatment of choice depending on the preference of surgeons.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; Melanosis ; complications ; congenital ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes ; complications ; congenital ; metabolism ; pathology ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Skin ; metabolism ; pathology

Erythroderma with complicated etiology is one of the severe skin diseases and has high mortality,of which the incidence was 0.5％-1.5％ in skin diseases.Erythrodermic psoriasis (EP) is the commonest type of erythroderma.In addition,there are drug-induced erythroderma,erythroderma secondary to preexisting dermatoses,malignancy-related erythroderma,and idiopathic erythroderma of unknown etiology.Erythroderma of different etiologies has various clinical manifestations,resulting in relevant curative effects and outcomes.In this article,we retrospectively investigated 205 erythroderma patients about clinical symptoms,auxiliary examination and treatments,and evaluated the efficacy and prognosis.There were 84 cases of EP among 205 patients,10 cases of erythroderma caused by specific drugs,77 cases of erythroderma secondary to preexisting dermatoses (excluding psoriasis),7 cases of erythroderma patients suffering from malignancy and 27 cases with unknown causes.We concluded that the etiology of male patients in different age groups had significant difference.The incidence of EP was the highest among all types.The EP was commonly accompanied with hypoproteinemia,and changed into psoriasis vulgaris after treatment.Drug-induced erythroderma was commonly accompanied with fever,and mostly cured by systematic steroid therapy.For erythroderma secondary to preexisting der matoses,the original dermatoses must be actively treated to achieve a satisfying prognosis.Erythroderma with malignancy or unknown causes had long-term duration,poor response to the treatment,and high potential to relapse.Therefore,clarifying the etiology,providing an appropiate and individual regimen,and regular follow-up are crucial for the successful treatment of erythroderma with unknown causes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sub-acute oral effect of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles on the oxidation/antioxidation biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines in blood, liver, intestine, and colon in rats. METHODS: Twenty four 4-week-old clean-grade Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly devided into 4 groups by body weight (n=6, control, low, middle, and high), in which the rats were orally exposed to TiO₂ nanoparticles at doses of 0, 2, 10 and 50 mg/kg body weight/day for 28 consecutive days separately. Food intake, body weight and abnormal behaviors during the experiment were recorded. The rats were euthanized on the 29th day. The blood was collected via abdominal aortic method and centrifuged to collect the serum. Tissues from liver, intestine and colon were collected and homogenated. Then enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and microwell plate methods were used to detect oxidation/antioxidation biomarkers including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total mercapto (T-SH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), malomdialdehvde (MDA) and inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the serum, liver, intestine and colon in the rats. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, no significant differences in body weight, food intake and organ coefficients were observed in all the three groups after TiO₂ gavage. No significant changes in GSH, GSH-Px, T-SH, and IL-6 were observed. Compared with the control group, significant increase of SOD activity in serum in high dose group, signi-ficant increase of GSSG concentration in intestine in middle and high dose group and significant increase of MDA concentration in liver in low and high dose group were observed. Compared with the control group, a significant increase of TNF-α in liver in middle and high dose group was observed. CONCLUSION TiO₂ nanoparticle can increase antioxidant enzymes activities in blood, increase oxidative biomarkers in liver and intestine, increase inflammatory cytokines in liver in rats after a 28-day sub-acute orally administration. Among blood, liver, intestine, and colon, liver is most sensitive to the toxicity induced by TiO₂ nanoparticles, followed by intestine, blood, and colon in sequence.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Biomarkers ; Cytokines ; Nanoparticles ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Titanium

To investigate the effects of oleanolic acid (OA) on the proliferation, migration and the formation of tube-like structure in human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). MTT assay, flat plate scarification, Transwell plates and matrigel-induced tube formation assay were performed to detect the effects of OA on proliferation, migration and tube formation. MTT assay showed that the inhibition rates of HUVECs treated with 60 and 100 microg x mL(-1) of OA for 24 h were 19% and 83% respectively. Treatment of HUVECs significantly inhibited the cell migration in a dose-dependent manner. The vascular indexes of HUVECs treated with 40 and 60 microg x mL(-1) OA were 33% and 20% respectively. Western blotting analysis showed that treatment of the cells with OA significantly attenuated the expression and secretion of VEGF. Additionally, VEGF could in part reverse the effects of OA on migration and tube formation of HUVECs. In conclusion, OA inhibits the proliferation, and VEGF plays an important role in OA induced decreased migration and tube formation of HUVECs.
Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Oleanolic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; secretion

Objective:To investigate impacts of usnic acid(UA)on malignant behavior of gastric cancer cells by regulating the chemokine(C-C motif)ligand 2(CCL2)-CCL2 receptor(CCR2)signal axis.Methods:SGC-7901 cells,a well growing human gastric cancer cell line,were treated with different concentrations of UA,which were grouped into low concentration(UA-L)group(62.5 μmol/L UA),medium concentration(UA-M)group(125 μmol/L UA)and high concentration(UA-H)group(250 μmol/L UA);meantime,the cells were transfected with CCL2 overexpression vector(pc DNA3.1 CCL2),empty vector(pc DNA3.1),silenced CCL2(si CCL2)and negative control(si control),and SGC-7901 cells were treated with 250 μmol/L UA,labeled as UA-H+pc DNA3.1 CCL2 group,UA-H+pc DNA3.1 group,UA-H+si control group and UA-H+si CCL2 group,another untreated SGC-7901 cells were taken as the control group.Flow cytometry,MTT and qRT-PCR were applied to detect cell apoptosis,proliferation,and expres-sion levels of CCL2 and CCR2 mRNA;Western blot was applied to detect expression levels of PD-L1,apoptotic protein(Bax),proli-ferative protein(CyclinD1,CCL2,CCR2)and immune escape related protein(B7H1);after co-culturing with CD8+T cells isolated and cultured in vitro,ELISA was applied to detect levels of IL-4,IFN-γ and IL-10 in the supernatant.Gastric cancer cells in each group were co-cultured with activated peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC)1∶1 for 72 hours,and the sensitivity of gastric can-cer cells in each group to T-cell-mediated killing was compared.Results:Compared with control group,cell proliferation rate,IL-10 level,CyclinD1,PD-L1,CCL2,CCR2 and B7H1 protein and mRNA expressions,cell counts after co-culturing with activated PBMC 1∶1 for 72 hours in UA-L group,UA-M group and UA-H group were obviously reduced,while apoptosis rate,IL-4 and IFN-γ levels,Bax protein expression were obviously increased(P<0.05);compared with UA-H+pc DNA3.1 group,cell proliferation rate,IL-10 level,CyclinD1,PD-L1,CCL2,CCR2 protein and mRNA expressions,cell counts after co-culturing with activated PBMC 1∶1 for 72 hours in UA-H+pc DNA3.1 CCL2 group were obviously increased,while apoptosis rate,IL-4 and IFN-γ levels,and Bax protein ex-pression were obviously reduced(P<0.05);compared with UA-H+si control group,cell proliferation rate,IL-10 level,CyclinD1,PD-L1,CCL2,CCR2 and B7H1 protein and mRNA expressions,cell counts after co-culturing with activated PBMC 1∶1 for 72 hours in UA-H+si CCL2 group were obviously reduced,while apoptosis rate,IL-4 and IFN-γ levels and Bax protein expression were obviously increased(P<0.05).Conclusion:UA can inhibit gastric cancer cells proliferation,immune escape,and induce apoptosis,which may be related to the inhibition of the CCL2-CCR2 signaling axis.

OBJECTIVETo observe blood lead level and related risk factors among children of 0 - 6-year old in Beijing.

METHODSStratified-clustered-random sampling and simple random sampling were used. A total of 2 262 children of 0 - 6 years old were investigated from May to July 2001. They were permanent residents in Beijing. Blood lead level was tested by graphite atomizer absorption spectrophotometer. At the same time, related factors were investigated using a standardized questionnaire.

RESULTSThe mean lead level of children in Beijing was 96.8 micro g/L with 35.7% of those >/= 100 micro g/L, and 2.5% >/= 200 micro g/L. The proportion of lead poisoning was significantly higher in rural children (P < 0.01). The proportion of lead poisoning in 2-year-old group was higher than that in other age groups. The proportion of lead poisoning in boys was significantly higher than that in girls (P < 0.01). The following factors might serve as major risk factors related to child lead poisoning, such as, never or rarely drinking milk, living in nearby highways (less than 50 meters) or living in the first floor/bungalow, and so on.

CONCLUSIONThe blood lead level of >/= 100 micro g/L among Beijing children appeared to be a big problem. Decision-makers should pay more attention to prevent blood lead level being high, and to cure these children who suffered in lead poisoning. Effective intervention measures on these target populations should be taken.

Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; therapy ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors